GROUSE AtiD PARTRIDGE 219 



effective, and much more picturesque way, are 

 ruthlessly destroyed. 



Attempts are being made to give grouse a still 

 wider distribution. Other nations have caught the 

 fever, and, since it is not always convenient to come 

 so far, are eager to have their autumn-shooting 

 nearer home. It seems a pity, from the naturalist's 

 point of view, that a type, so markedly the creation 

 of our peculiar insular conditions, should be ex- 

 patriated. But, it may be interesting to watch how 

 the continental colonies depart, more and more, from 

 the parent stock, until they leave Us our British 

 grouse to ourselves, as before. 



Why a day so early as the twelfth of August 

 should have been chosen, or should be persisted in, 

 for the opening of grouse-shooting, it were difficult 

 to explain ; if it be not that the heather is in 

 bloom, or that the weather is likely to be good, or 

 that the birds will be easily knocked over. We 

 have no parallel to this, except rook-shooting in 

 May, while the young are still on the edge of the 

 nest, or perched, insecurely, on the branches. But 

 then, that is a juvenile pastime. Not till the first 

 moulting in October do the young cocks declare 

 themselves, and become fair game. If this is rather 

 late for the big bags so eagerly sought after, and 



